This episode we're speaking with Jeff Robin. Jeff is a teacher of 27 years and is a founding faculty member of High Tech High in San Diego and remained an active collaborative teacher at High Tech High until 2017.
In this episode, we discuss Jeff’s fantastic book, Teach Like an Artist, in which he outlines a vast collection of the art projects that he coordinated at High Tech High, the wonderful work of his students, and what he learnt about how to be an art teacher, and a teacher more broadly, through this rich experience.
I was initially put in touch with Jeff following my discussion with Gwyn Ap Harri of XP school, back in episode 70, as Gwyn and Jeff are great friends and similarly driven about creating fantastic learning experiences for students. Jeff sent me his book and I was blown away by the quality of the work that his students had done, and the passion and impact of Jeff’s teaching.
This is a wide ranging discussion touching on everything from effective instruction, models and chunking of tasks, what it takes to run effective projects, field trips and excursions, the role of high art in schools, teacher collaboration, and much more.
I hope you enjoy this discussion with Jeff as much as I did
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Links/resources mentioned in the show
- Three favourite books
- ‘Don’t read books about education, read books about your subject area!'
- Any Walter Mosley book, e.g., 47
- Herman Hesse, Siddartha
- Kurt Vonnegut, Welcome to the Monkey House (short stories…)
- Three favourite Jazz albums?
- Coltrane 58, unreleased coltrane from 1958 sessions!
- Scott Joplin rag time piano!
- Thelonious Monk, Monk Alone
- Three fave poems
- Used to be into traditional poetry, minimalist poetry like Sam Cornish. 5-6 word poems, Jeff took a class with him
- Jack Kerouac books…(prose poetry)
- Alan Ginsberg…
- Other
- Qwiqr (for QR code -> audio feedback
- Video on Jeff’s website: Textbook me not
- ook recommendations
- Ollie's Books, Cognitive Load Theory in Action and Tools for Teachers
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This episode of the ERRR Podcast is brought to you by John Catt Educational
This episode of the ERRR podcast is brought to you by Catalyst. Catalyst transforms students' lives through learning by developing excellent teachers and Leaders through evidence-based professional learning programs. Find out more at https://catalyst.cg.catholic.edu.au/
Listen to all past episodes of the ERRR podcast here.